Courts
How woman was conned Sh7.8 million using original title deed of non-existent land
According to the documents from the surveyor, the physical land does not exist and the property number is not indicated on the map despite having an original certificate of title
A witness narrated to a Nairobi court how a friend was conned Ksh 7.8 million and she was given an original title deed for a non-existent parcel of land in Kajiado county.
Testifying before Milimani Principal Magistrate Caroline Nyaguthii, Robert Muka, who is a clinical officer, told the court that his friend, Kanyua Gitari Kamunde informed him that she was interested in investing in real estate and requested him to assist her in getting a property she could buy.
A well known friend to Muka then informed him that his friend, Obadiah Kavivya Kioko, had a piece of land he was selling and they planned a meeting with him to negotiate.
“I had told a friend of mine to assist me in looking for a property on behalf of another friend who wanted to buy a land. We planned a meeting in a hotel within Nairobi where we met with the owner of the land and the purchaser,” Muka said.
He said he accompanied his friend and the buyer for a meeting with the prospective seller, who was also in the company of others.
After introductions, Kanyua and Kioko discussed the issue of the land he was selling, which he said was located in Ewaso Kedong in Kajiado County.
Kioko is said to have produced a title deed, number KJD/EWUASO/3142, for the land which they conducted a search to confirm its authenticity and the results were positive.
“After conducting the search on the said title the results were satisfying indicating the land existed in Ewaso Kedong,” he said.
After the negotiation, Kanyua paid the money to Kioko but surprisingly on visiting Ewaso Kedong to view the land, it was not there.
According to the documents from the surveyor, the physical land does not exist and the property number is not indicated on the map despite the existence of an original certificate of title.
Kanyua reported the matter to the police and Kioko was arrested and charged with the offence of obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code.
The charge sheet indicated that on diverse dates between December 26, 2018 and December 11, 2020 in Nairobi, he obtained Ksh 7,835,000 on the pretence that he would sell a parcel of land to Kanyua Gitari Kamunde, a fact which was false.
The hearing will resume on April 30.
